Will the Giant be Slain?
The Giant Slayer Classic Stakes
Grade IIIA mile and one sixteenth on Fast Dirt
$150,000
All Horses, 3 years old
It has been a quiet week in Denmark while awaiting the start of the GIANT SLAYER Classic Stakes race for three year olds at a mile and sixteenth on dirt. This $150,000 Stakes race should be run with nice times as there are some really nice horses and sunshine is forecast for this weekend. We’ve got three of the top 10 three year olds entered and ready for battle so let’s take a look:
1 – K’S RUMOR HAS IT ODDS OWNER WIN% JOCKEY WIN% TOP SPEED AVG SPEED RANK 4/1 Kronus 33.7% M.Sheridan 23% 97.1 93.0 7
(SADLER’S WELLS x SEATTLE SLEW x NIJINSKY II) This well bred colt is the hottest thing going as he has won his past three and two of those were Grade II’s. He has never finished below 2nd in his five races and has improved each and every time out. What more can trainer Kronus ask for than that. Here is a trainer that knows how to win, witness his incredible 33% plus win percentage. Teaming up with jockey Sheridan, the threesome may prove awfully tough to beat here. RUMOR likes to stay near the front so the rail suits him as well. The trio may all be smiling for the cameras in the winner’s circle.
| 2 – RHIBUS | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/2 | Gradetwo | 28.0% | B.Schardein | 41% | 99.7 | 94.8 | 3 |
(KINGMAMBO x PLEASANT COLONY x NIJINSKY II) The Morning Line favorite has won five of seven and has a respectable fourth place finish in last years Juvenile Breeders Bowl race. He nearly cracked the century mark with his 99 SPF last outing and got back to the circle after a couple of competitive Grade I’s. He loves the classic distance and trainer Gradetwo knows how to bring him home as does the tracks hottest jockey in Schardein. This could be a tremendous race down the stretch as I expect RHIBUS to be on K’S RUMOR HAS IT’s shoulder most of the race. The stretch run could be a classic.
| 3 – MISWAKI’S REVENGE | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25/1 | Super9 | 20.3% | R.Fuchs | 0% | 72.8 | 72.8 | 853 |
(VINDICATION x MISWAKI x ALYDAR) Here is a young colt that is still trying to find himself. I’m sure that Super9 is pulling his hair out on this nicely bred brown colt that has never run faster than an 80 SPF. He has mostly sprinted and his one classic distance he finished out of the money in a Maiden race. The route to the winners circle is mostly uphill for this colt but you never know with these youngsters.
| 4 – AZROC SARE CHARTED(AUS) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25/1 | Jarrod2 | 8.1% | S.McDowell | 14% | 88.2 | 79.6 | N/A |
(CLANG (AUS) x HUSSONET x OPERA HOUSE(GB)) Lightly raced colt that seemed to find himself somewhat at a mile in his last outing where he finished third in an NW3L Allowance. He may be a bit outclassed here but he had his best time in that last race and may be ready to turn things around. He may want to stick to the allowance circuit until that happens.
| 5 – SAGATECTOR(FR) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/1 | Ruby9 | 18.1% | D.Coffey | 10% | 96.9 | 86.7 | 122 |
(SAGAMIX (FR) x MR. PROSPECTOR x SILENT SCREEN) French Bred colt has been inconsistent but has shown flashes of real speed. Two back he won the Solar Challenge stakes when he threw a nice 96 SPF but stumbled out of the gate his last outing and never really caught up, finishing well behind the leaders. The beauty of these three year olds is that you just never know when they might spring forward with another big race and this fella is due.
| 6 – CRAFTY CYCLONE | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/1 | YDRacing | 12.3% | K.Helton | 9% | 93.1 | 87.9 | 15 |
(CRAFTY PROSPECTOR x GONE WEST x STORM CAT) I’ve been watching this chestnut colt for awhile as I’m a big Crafty Prospector fan. He started last year with three of four wins then seemed to forget how to finish with lots of hitting the board but not the circle for the rest of 2005. He loves to stay way back and watch the action and in classy company can’t quite catch everyone at the end. Last outing he stayed more with the crowd and just missed a win and finished second. Traner YDRacing has really been working with this big colt and it may pay off here.
| 7 – PUNCH DRUNK T | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/1 | XTChamps | 8.5% | T.Dillungham | 0% | 90.7 | 90.6 | 43 |
(TWO PUNCH x DANEHILL x GREAT NECK) Our lone filly in the race is going to try to take a PUNCH at the boys here. She decided last outing that she definitely doesn’t like to play in the mud but has done well in everything else that trainer XTChamps has thrown at her. Her SPFs have been continually improving and she will need to kick it up another notch to compete with the boys. The beautiful grey filly looks like she is willing and able so we will see how it turns out.
| 8 – PREACHINTOTHECHOIR | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/1 | Desperado3 | 18.6% | T.Haley | 10% | 95.6 | 84.9 | 54 |
(PULPIT x DIXIELAND BAND x SEEKING THE GOLD) The colt with the great name ran a mile for the first time last outing and loved it. He threw a 95 SPF and won the race making his Momma, DIXIE CHICKEN proud. Desperado3 was proud as well hopes that his colt can continue to run those kind of numbers. This will be his first race in 2006 and his 3 year old campaign could be on track for some fame and fortune. Jockey Haley could start that off in a big way by guiding this colts nose across the line first.
| 9 – JOHN BUTLER | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14/1 | Quiggy2 | 11.8% | E.Harris | 8% | 90.2 | 85.7 | 153 |
(HANGING ROAD x ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) x MINSTREL GLORY) It is always a learning process with these young colts and Trainer Quiggy2 learned in his first few races that JOHN BUTLER doesn’t like sprints and most definitely doesn’t like off tracks. Before that he found that he abhors the grass. Now that his wishes are narrowing down he may be ready to put on a push toward winning a few stakes races. He might be a bit over his head with this crowd but you just never know.
| 10 – LOCKITINEDDIE | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/1 | Boogie | 16.0% | S.McCubbins | 0% | 95.8 | 89.8 | 67 |
(SMARTY JONES x NIJINSKY II x MR. PROSPECTOR) With only four races under his belt, this Smarty Jones colt has shown some speed but needs to develop some consistency. He loves the lead and may suffer from the outside post and jockey McCubbins who has been unable to find the winners circle himself so far this year. Trainer Boogie will have LOCKITINEDDIE locked and loaded for this race but it seems like there are a lot of adversities to overcome.
Morning Line = 2-1-6-7-10
Yoss Tipsheet = 2-1-8-7
Paz Picks = 1-7-6-2
A I think that PUNCH DRUNK T has something to prove and you know about women scorned so I like her to finish fourth. CRAFTY CYCLONE always seems to hit the board so I like him to show. The real fireworks should be a tremendous two horse race down the stretch. I like K’S RUMOR HAS IT to upset ML Favorite RHIBUS . It should be a good one and possibly a rivalry between the two that could go on for years.
Good luck to all runners!
Paz